Blow plate assembly



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'Filed April 3. 1965 FIGJ.

INVENTORS ROBERT E. 8260 BY WILLIAM J.THOMAS United States Patent M3,163,894 BLGW PLATE ASSEREELY Robert E. Bego, Bloomfield Hills, William3. Thomas,

Birmingham, and Anthony N. Voltattorni, Detroit,

Mich, assignors to Progress Pattern (10., outhield,

Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 270,425Ciaims. (6i. 221ii) The present invention relates to an improved foundryblow plate assembly of the general type currently employed in theforming and baking of foundry cores. This procedure involves the moldingin a heated core box of sand which is treated in accordance with presentday practice, with a thermally settable resin compound.

For many years, foundry cores were produced by blowing oil-conditionedsand into a core box to fill and shape the core outline against a cavityor cavities in the box, after which the top member or cover of the boxwas removed and replaced by an aluminum drier cover of approximately thesame configuration, and with its surface or cavities arranged so as tofit the still soft, formed cores from above. This assembly was theninverted, leaving the cores in the aluminum drier, which was then placedin a baking oven to set the sand cores. Baking was carried out for alengthy period, to the extent of, say, 30 minutes. It was necessary,despite frequent re-use of the original core box components in quantityproduction, to have a very large number of the aluminum drier covers instock in order to keep up with the volume of production in any givencore box design.

Present day core production involves the use of a hot core box kept atabout 400 F., this core box being constituted by upper and'lower partsof plate-like character shaped at meeting surfaces thereof to providethe desired core forming cavity or cavities. As distinguished from theearlier practice, these parts or plates are kept in assembled relationto one another throughout both the core forming and baking phases of theoperation; and in the former phase a sand especially treated with a heatsetting or curing resin, such as furfural, is blown under pneumaticpressure through a blow plate assembly of one sort or another into thehot core box to fill the cavity or cavities of the latter.

The furfural sets up quite rapidly under heat, actually being capable ofsetting by itself somewhat abovenormal room temperature, for example,100 F. Accordingly, since the blow plate assembly and any sand dischargecomponents thereof are in direct engagement with .the hot core box inthe blowing operation, these parts hecome heated, with the result thatcuring or setting of the ,furfural commences quickly, and with thefurther result that the tube discharge mouth to or at the core boxhecomes clogged.

Thus, in one design in which a plate of the blow plate unit has blowholes communicating with openings extending an appreciable lengththrough a removable cover of the core box, when the cover is removedafter baking the partially or wholly cured sand representing saidopenings remains as a projection on the core. This projection has to beremoved, and in breaking it away it often happens that a portion of thecore is carried away, too.

It has been proposed to meet this drawback by the more or less obviousprocedure of cooling the blow plate as 3,1533% a s Je .65.

sembly by the use of cooling water. A suggested procedure was to providea blow plate having -a main cavity containing cooling water, withsleeves open to this cooling water and surrounding blow conduits. Sincethere was no provision to circulate the water properly, there resulted afailure to cool the sand sufilciently to prevent premature setting up ofits furfural agent.

Another proposal has been to core out the blow plate and circulate waterthrough the latter, but it is found that this still does not bring thecooling efiect close enough to the hot core box to produce the desiredcooling of the sand as it is blown into the box.

A further design utilizes jacketed blow tubes which extend closer to thecore cavities of the core box, and which are themselves cooled by thecirculation of water about their jacketed sand discharge passages.However, the blow tube structure is an intricately cast one requiring ofitself much diversified coring to produce it. The same is also true ofthe blow plate proper of a blow plate assembly, in the event it is to beinternally cooled by circulating water; and still a desiredly efficientcirculatory flow for the most rapid and best transfer of heat from theblow plate is not had to date.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide ablow plate assembly for core making, for use in conjunction with aseparable core box adequately heated to produce the desired relativelyrapid setting of the furfural agent in the sand (in, say, about 30seconds time). The blow plate assembly includes blow tube unitsdisposable in direct communication with the cavities of the core box,and the improvements of the blow plate assembly deal not only with meansfor the improved heat transfer circulation of cooling water through theblow plate proper to such tube units, but also to an improved,simplified and low cost construction of the latter for the circulationof the water locally about the individual sand discharge tube passages,again in the interest of eflicient heat transfer therefrom.

More specifically, in accordance with the invention-the blow plateproper is fabricated of a pair of rugged plates secured in tightface-to-face engagement, with one of said plates being routed orotherwise formed upon a surface thereof which meets the other plate toprovide a sinuous passage between the plates for the efiicientcirculation of cooling water. Thus, internal water circulatingprovisions are bad without the necessity of specially coring'the blowplate structure.

Such provisions are, furthermore, of a nature to permit a most directand efiicient flow of water supply or intake portions or legs of therouted passage into and through the individual blow tubes, and thencedirectly back to return portions of the sinuous passage. A parallel,intermeshing disposition of supply and return legs of the passage meanspermits a most rapid circulation of the coolant, as compared with aseries flow.

A substantial improvement in accordance with the invention deals, asindicated above, with the specific fabricated structure of the blow tubeunits, as distinguished from a cored and cast construction. Theseindividual sand discharge sub-assemblies are each constituted by astandard internal tube of stainless steel or like stock in a desiredbore size, cut to a desired length; an external jacket inexpensivelyproduced from tubular stock by an inexpensive screw machine operation,which jacket surrounds the tube length to aiford a water circulatingpassage about the latter; and external dimensions for all sizes of tubeunit and also inexpensively turned as required, to which the jacket andinternalsand tube are fixedly assembled.

This build-up of parts provides a blow tube subassembly of veryinexpensive nature, whose standard design adapter permits a number ofthem to be assembled rapidly and easily in similarly standard sized,predeterminedly located openings of the lower plate unit of the blowplate proper. Their cooling action prevents an undesired prematuresetting up of the resin impregnated sand in the blow tube during thecore forming phase.

More specifically, the adapter component of the improved below tube unithas an upper tubular extension to be received in a hole of the blowplate proper and an enlarged flange beneath this extension to fit in acounterbore of the hole, circulation of cooling water between thepassage of the blow plate and that of the jackettaking place throughports in the adapter flange opening externally of the adapter. Thus, inso far as the blow tube unit is concerned, circulation is entirelywithin its side confines, without resort to external tubing. It followsthat the tube units may be more compactly and densely assembled to theblow plate than is possible when such external circulatory means arepresent.

In further accordance with the invention, the jacket of the tubeassembly is provided with a fairly yieldable tip of a suitable plastic,these tips being produced with different sizes and shapes. of dischargeopenings adapted to engage the core box indirect communication with itscore cavities. Thus, with the .blow tube optionally produced indilferent sizes and designs, by a proper selection of its inner tube,outer jacket and tip, to suit the requirements of the particular corebox, these parts are permanently mounted to their standard adapter, and,as thus assembled, may be mounted to any one of a number of blow platestructures having different arrangements of their discharge openings.Furthermore, a standardized blow tube unit may be removed from a blowplate having a given such arrangement and transferred to a plate havvinganother arrangement of such openings, but standardized as to the size ofthe latter to also receive the transferred below tube unit.

Another object is to provide an improved combination of hot box and blowplate units, involving water circulating provisions of the sortdescribed, with a further smoothing or baking and stripping pin unitoperated coordinately with the first named units in timed relationthereto. Thus, after completion of the core forming phase, in which theblow plate assembly is brought downwardly onto the core box tocommunicate its blow tubes directly with and at the cavities of thelatter, this assembly is lifted from the core box and shifted laterallyaway from the latter. concurrently brought laterally over and thenlowered toward the core box.

In accordance with the invention, the smoothing and stripping unit inquestion carries pins or rods located to enter the filling openings ofthe core box, previously occupied by the blow tubes, and to compress andsmooth such small amounts of excess core sand as may have been left inthese zones at the completion of forming.

The pins or rods arepreferably heated to locally bake the core at thepoints of contact; andthe blow plate, core box and baking and strippingunits are coordinately operated to produce the sequence of operationsdescribed. Next, the upper plate of the core box is elevated above itslower part and relative to the stripping unit, once the furfural of thesand has partially set, leaving stripping extensions of baking pinstemporarily in engagement with the core, thus to act in the manner ofstrippers for the core to retain it in the lower half of the core box.The stripping assembly is then itself elevated out of the top openingsof the core box; whereupon the last named as a base adapter, standard initsv sembly is shifted laterally away from position above the core box.

The blow plate assembly is concurrently brought back into position abovethe core box, ready for another filling, forming and drying cycle; andcoincidient with this shuttle return of the blow plate assembly, thebottom part of the core box is dropped down in a manner to strip thecompleted cores from their cavities. This is assisted by strippersassociated with the core box bottom.

Another object is to provide a specific improvement in an individuallycooled below tube structure as described above, in which a plastic tipof the blow tube includes an elongated, somewhat flexible dischargesleeve portion. A tip of this sort may be employed when it is desired tofill a core box having openings of appreciable length in its top partcommunicating downwardly with its cavities. Such sleeve portion, asreceived with some radial clearance in an opening is capable ofexpanding radially under the force of discharge of sand therethrough andThe stripping pin unit or assembly is then, upon cessation of pneumaticpressure, of contracting radially in a manner to nip off and retain anysand left in the sleeve portion, rather than leaving this sand toproject above the core cavity and thus be baked to the core.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved blowplate unit of extremely inexpensive construction, in which cooling watercirculatory passages, as described, between two component plates of suchunit may be either of straight legged supply and return portionsarranged in parallel, or may have a zig-zag or other configurationsuited to provide a maximum amount of cooling water in the interior ofthe blow plate assembly. In any such embodiment, the construction of theunit from two parts eliminates the cost of patterns and coring involvedin the production of a cast, water cooled blow plate and avoids thedifficulty of sealing the pervious casting against water leakage.

The foregoing as well as other objects will become more apparent as thisdescription proceeds, especially when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of theinvention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partially broken away, of the blow plateassembly or unit of the present invention, indicating the contouring ofinternal, parallel water circulatory passages in the latter, and themode of communication of these passages with the interior of individualsand blow tubes of the assembly;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially broken away and sectionedalong line 2-2 of FIG. 1, further indicating structural features of thecore box and blow plate assembly, including the blow tubes of thelatter;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section along,

line 33 of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in enlarged scale and insection similar to FIG. 3, more clearly illustrating structural featuresof the blow tube unit and showing a part of a cavity of the core boxfilled with sand blown into it through the tube;

FIG. 5 is a view in section similar to FIG. 4 of the internal tube,external jacket and adapter construction of the blow tube unit orsub-assembly, per se;

FIGS. 6 and 7- are, respectively, views in axial section throughalternative designs. of yieldable discharge tip adapted to be assembledto the blow tube structure of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view in section similar to FIG. 5 of a furtherdesign of blow tube unit;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 of a tip which maybe applied to the unit of FIG. 8;

FIG. 101's a fragmentary view in axial section through a blow tubeassembly having an elongated flexible sleeve type of tip adapted toextent a substantial distance through the top part of the core box;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view in vertical section schematically showingthe operation of a smoothing or baking and core stripping rod assemblyin conjunction with the core box; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to FIG. 1, illustratingan alternative scheme of internally passaging the blow plate assemblyfor water cooling.

Referring first to FIG. 2, the reference numeral 16 generally designatesa two-part cast iron core box, in cluding separable upper and lowerplate-like parts 11, 12, respectively. These are respectively formed ontheir lower and upper surfaces to provide mating recesses 13 whichconjointly constitute core forming cavities 14 when the plates 11, 12are brought together as shown in FIG. 2. The core box 16 is externallyheated to a temperature of about 400 F. by any suitable means (notshown) which will not interfere with the motions of its parts 11 12relative to one another, in the manner to be described.

The upper part of plate 11 of box it is conventionally provided with asuitable number (depending upon the number and size or design or thecavities 14), of upwardly opening filling holes 15, each shaped toprovide a frusto-conical bottom seat 17 opening directly to the cavity,and flush with the top of the latter, for pneumatic pressure filling ofthe same with furfural treated sand.

The blow plate assembly of the invention is generally designated Ztl. Itincludes upper and lower steel plates 21, 22, respectively, bored orotherwise apertured in vertical registration with one another at pointsdetermined by and corresponding to the location of the filling holes 16of core box It Thus, referring to FIGS. 1, 2

and 4, the lower plate 22 has cylindrical bores 23 and counterbores 24for the reception of individual blow tube sub-assemblies or units,generally designated 26, of a nature hereinafter described in detail;while the upper plate 21 is formed to provide downwardly taperingfrustoconical openings 27, into the lower zone of which the blow tubeassembly 26 upwardly telescopes a bit.

Actually, the blow plate assembly constitutes the base or floor panel ofa sand reservoir or magazine which is from time to time replenished withsand and is kept under a sufficient pneumatic pressure during the coreforming operation to discharge the sand in entrainment with a blast ofair through the holes 27 into the blow tube units 2:: and, as the latterare mounted to the supporting blow plate unit 24} and engaged with thecore box seats 17 (FIGS. 2 and 4), directly into the cavities 14 to formcores C.

In accordance with the invention, the upper surface of bottom blow plate22 is routed or otherwise grooved to provide water circulating passagemeans, generally designated 28, of the character and outline best shown.in FIG. 1. Thus, for the most rapid and efficient circulation of alarge volume of water to and from the various individual blow tubeassemblies 26, we contemplate passaging 28 including a set of legs orpasses 36 connected in parallel by a transverse pass or leg; andparallel discharge passes or legs 32 alternating with the legs 3th, thelegs 32 being connected to one another by a transverse leg 33.

The direction of flow of coolant Water in the passage means .28 isindicated by arrows in FIG. 1. Gne of the intake legs 3t) iscommunicated by a port 34 (PIG. 3) through the outer side of plate 22,being there threaded .to receive a suitable water supply fitting (notshown);

while the transverse return pass 33 is similarly brought through theside of plate 22 by means of a tapped port 35, to which an appropriatedischarge fitting (not shown) may be connected.

The various passes or legs 30, 32 described above are placed incommunication with the interior of the tube assemblies 26 by drilledpairs of individual, radially and downwardly inclined intake anddischarge ports 37, 38, respectively, the ports 37 running from theintake blow passage legs 39 and the ports 38 running'to the discharge orreturn legs 32, in the fashion shown in FIG. 1. Thus there is provided avery eflicient sinuous, parallel-pathflow of cooling water to and fromthe respective blow tube sub-assemblies 26, for a most rapid andefiicient removal of heat from the latter.

This efficiency is had at minimum cost of production of the steel plateassembly 29, as compared to the cost of pattern making for casting ahollow compartmented unit; and the difiiculty of sealing such a castingis avoided. Economy of production of the assembly is furthered by theimproved internal structural features of its sub-assemblies 26, as willbe described.

If desired, the scheme of layout of the passage means may be as shown inFIG. 12 of the drawings, wherein passage components generallycorresponding -to those of FIG. 1 are designated by similar referencenumerals, primed. Thus, in this embodiment the passage provision 28' arecontoured in a zig-zag outline in the interest of having a greatervolume of cooling water within the blow plate assembly 2t). Otherwiseport connections 37, 58' to the blow tube assemblies 26 are as shown inFIG. 1. As thus formed, the upper and lower plates 21, 22 or 21', 22' ofthe respective assemblies 20 and 20' may be hydrogen brazed or otherwisebonded or secured together to constitute a sealed unitary circulatoryplate structure. If desired, these plates may be appropriately gasketedand bolted together in a sealed condition.

Features of the blow tube assembly 26 are'best' shown in FIGS. 4 through9. With the object of eliminating the cost of intricate coring for-thecasting of these water cooled units, as has been proposed, they aremade, pursuant to the present invention, in theirientireties ofinexpensively fabricated components.

Thus each tube sub-assembly 25 includes an inner length 39 of standardstainless steel or .like tubing which may, if desired, be furtherprotected by a removable liner sleeve 40 (FIG. 4) flared or expanded atits top to retain it in place. In any event, the inner tube 39 isstandard in character, being optionally formed in any desired length atthe time of fabrication of the blow tube sub-assembly or unit 26. r

The unit 26 also includes an external tubular jacket 44 which is turnedfrom tubular stock, as by a screw ,machine operation. Jacket 44 isformed to an inner bore diameter at 45 substantially exceeding the outerdiameter of the sleeve 39 and, like the latter, its axial length ischosen to suit the intended installation. An annular space 46 ofsubstantial width and axial length is thus provided between jacket 44and tube 39, through which space Water will be circulated. Aproperdirectional flow of circulation is insured by diametrically spacedbafiles 47 subdividing space 46, which bafiies may be appropjiatelysecured to one or both of the tube and jacket components 39, 44 at thetime of assembly of blow tube unit 26.

A third component of that sub-assembly is a flexible, axially aperturedtip 49 of a suitable plastic resin such as viton, which is slightly butadequately yieldable'to enable it to seat upon the frusto-conical base17 of the filling hole 16 of core box Ill. The jacket 44 is formed at 51for the snap-on reception of the tip 49, and the latter is shaped toprovide a frusto-conical bottom nose 51 to mate and seat in opening 16.Tip 49 has a central discharge opening52, shown astapered in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 illustrates one of various possible alternative modifications inshape or design of the tip, and reference numerals, primed,corresponding to those in FIGS. 4 and 6 are employed. In this instancethe aperture 52' is shown as cylindrical.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the inner tube 39 and outer jacket 44- of theblow tube assembly may be selected in whatever diameter is desired,primed reference numerals corresponding to those of FIGS. 4 and 5 againbeing employed; while FIG. 9 shows a design of plastic tip, heredesignated 54, suitable for the dimensions of the 'metal parts of FIG.8.

The blow tube unit or assembly 26 is, as best shown in FIG. 4, completedby a base adapter 56 of cold rolled. steel which will be, in so far asits external peripheral dimensions are concerned, standard for alldesigns of tube and jacket components 39, 44, respectively. The adapter56 has an enlarged cylindrical base-flange 57 of an outer diameter tofit snugly in the counterbore 24 of bottom plate 22, and an integralupstanding cylindrical sleeve formation 58 of adapter 56 is similarlyproportioned to be telescoped in the smaller bore 23 of plate 22.

.A pair of radially inwardly and downwardly inclined ports 60 and'61 aredrilled through the enlarged base flange 57 of adapter 56 intocommunication with the annular Water circulating space 46 of unit 26.The bore 62 of adapter 56 is dimensioned to receive the internal tube39, which may, as mentioned, optionally be equipped with the removableliner 48. The base 57 of the adapter is also provided with a'counterbore 63 similarly receiving the jacket 44.

With the tube, jacket and adapter components 39, 44, 56, respectively,chosen as described, the jacket 44 is fitted in the adapter counterbore63 and hydrogen brazed in place; and the tube 39 is hydrogen brazed inplace in adapter 62.. An'apertured compressible gasket 64 is telescopedover adapter sleeve 58, and the thus constituted,

pre-fabricated blow tube sub-assembly 26 is slipped into the bore 23oflower blow plate 22, its intake and return ports 60, 61 being alignedfor communication with the plate ports 37, 38, respectively, throughopenings 65 of gasket 64. The thus disposed blow tube assemblies 26 maybe removably held fixedly in place by clamp rings 67, or the like,marginally engaging the base adapter 56 from beneath and secured bybolts 63 threaded upwardly into bottom plate 22.

Thus it is seen that the invention provides, for conjoint utilizationwith the special internal passage provisions 28. of blow plate assembly29, a composite tube sub-assembly 26 of tube, jacket and adapter partswhich is of very inexpensive job shop construction, yet whichcomplements the efliciency of plate passage means 28, insuring a rapidand thorough circulation of cooling water into and out of the flangeports 60, 61 and about the blow tube 39 closely adjacent its engagementwith the hot box unit or assembly 16. Thus the sand is preventedfrombecoming heated-as it enters the hot environs .of core box 10 and thepossibility of its setting up to clog the blow tubes is eliminated.

The assemblyof base adapter 56, blow tube element 39 and jacket 44eliminates the cost of coring and unitary casting of the blow tube unit,as heretofore proposed, and the standardized components eliminate mostof the cost and inconvenience of stocking alarge number of sizes anddesigns of blow plate structure. They may be removed and replacedinterchangeably as desired on blow plates having different arrangementsof standard-sized blow holes 2'7. As indicated above, the readilycontrolled axial length of tube 39 and jacket :4 enable their projectionbeneath the standard adapter 56 to any extent desired. Bottom stops 69on blow plate unit 20 may be employed for engagement with the top ofcore box 10 to determine the downward limit of movement of assembly 20toward the box.

The tube unit 26 has all of its water circulating means built-in,including the flange ports 60, 61, being free of external tubing leadingto and from it; which signifies that the units 26 may be very compactlyassembled to the plate structure 20 to provide for a large number ofblow holes on a plate of given size.

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative proposed design of blow tubestructure for use with a core box plate, designated 70, whose fillingholes have cylindrical portions 71 extending for some length through theplate prior to communicating with the core forming cavity. Here, the

jacket 44 has fitted thereto a special type of yieldable plastic tip 72.In addition to a frusto-conical shoulder '73 to engage the mating seatof the plate opening, the tip 72 is provided with an axially elongatedlower sleeve portion 74 through which sand is discharged into the corebox cavity. This sleeve 74 is slightly smaller in diameter than the holeportion 71 and will, under pneumatic sand discharge pressure, beradially outwardly flexed somewhat as limited by the hole. Upon reliefof the pressure, sleeve '74 contracts radially to pinch off sand whichwould otherwise be left extending upwardly at c from the formed core Cand become baked to the latter. This hump will, upon being broken off,cause defacement of the core but the tip 72 permits the excess sand 0 tobe lifted out when r the blow plate is elevated after core forming.

it is seen by reference to FIG. 10 that the tip sleeve 74 may bespecially shaped at its bottom 75 to conform with the forming cavity 14,so that upon removal of the excess sand 0 as described the surface ofthe core C is left smoothly contoured.

It is seen by further reference to FIG. 4 that, upon cessation of theblowing of sand into the core box cavity 14, a small protuberance 76 ofsand may be left to extend upwardly into the discharge opening 52 of theflush type tip 49 of blow tube unit 26, and that as blow plate assembly20 and this tube unit are withdrawn upwardly, the slight protuberance 76 will ordinarily be left on the only partially set core C. However, theinvention contemplates further a coordinated lateral shuttle action,along with the blow plate assembly 26, of a core smoother assemblyhaving means to smooth out such projections or protuberances 76. 7

Although not illustrated in all details, the last named assemblycomprises, as shown in FIG. 11 of the drawings, a plurality of hollowbaking or smoothing and stripping rods or pins 73, one for each fillinghole 16 of core box 169. These pins are mounted to depend throughopenings 79 of a shiftable plate 80 coordinated in action with the blowplate assembly; and the plate 80 also carries gas burners 81 of a gasmanifold and burner superstructure 82 having openings 83 for secondaryair. Combustion gas is supplied to the burners 81 by suitable manifoldmeans of superstructure 82 not germane to the invention.

- Each of the baking and stripper pins '78 of the plate 80 is formed toprovide a hollow, upwardly opening tubular body 84 of substantialinternal bore diameter for a copious reception from above of the burninggas, which exits through side openings 85 of the body. Each pin 78carries an integral bottom stripping extension or finger 86, which isthoroughly heated by the means described. These fingers may be contouredat their bottoms 87 to fit the surface of the formed core C.

In use, following the upward withdrawal of blow plate assembly 2%, theplate 80 and its smoothing, baking and stripping pins 78 arecoordinately shifted to the horizontal direction, as the assembly 20 ismoved laterally away, into position above the respective filling holes16. The plate is then lowered to bring the finger extensions 86 of pins'78 into holes 16 for engagement with the top of the core C, thusflattening the small sand protuberances 76 (FIG. 4) and smoothing the.core. The heating of stripping pins or rods expedites setting of thecore sand at the local smoothed areas, and heat seals the same to insureagainst causing gas porosity in the casting.

After this corrective treatment of the core C, the upper half 11 of corebox ltl is elevated, the rods or pins 78' remaining in place, so thatthe latter act as restraining strippers for the cores C as the core box10 is separated. The lower half 12 of the core box 10 is then droppedaway from the cores, suitable further stripper pins (not shown) whichproject upwardly through the box part 12 then occasioning the completeloosening of the core C, which is then appropriately removed ordischarged from the core box.

The smoothing and stripping functions of the rods 78 raised sutlicientlyabove the core box upper half 11 to permit a lateral or horizontalwithdrawal of the plate 80 and rods. This is coordinated with thehorizontal return of the blow plate assembly'20 into place above corebox whereupon the cycle of core forming, setting and removal isrepeated. It is to be understood that, in the interest of high speedproduction, the cores C may be removed from the core box prior to thefull completion of their cure or set.

Structurally speaking, the baking and stripping rods 73 carry intopractice the principle of standardization which underlies the compositeconstruction of the blow tube subassemblies 26. That is, each isproduced, as by a screw machine turning, in a standard radius, beingthen cut to desired length according to the distance it is to dependfrom plate 89 for proper positioning in the core box opening 16 at thecore cavity 14. As thus proportioned, the rods 78 may be held in theplate openings 79 in any suitable manner, as by the use of split snaprings 88 shown in FIG. 11.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description ofthe improved blow plate assembly in such full, clear, concise and exactterms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice theinvention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

l. A blow tube unit for use in conjunction with a supporting unit havingat least one hole through which material is discharged in the forming ofsand core and like elements, said blow tube unit being fabricated of aplurality of component parts, including an inner blow tube part, atubular jacket part surrounding said tube part and providing a liquidcirculating space about the latter, and an adapter part for mountingsaid tube and jacket parts to said supporting unit at said hole in thelatter, said parts being secured in fixed relation to one another, theadapter part having an end portion externally proportioned for receptionin said hole and an enlarged flange portion adjacent said end portionadapted to be secured directly to the supporting unit, said adapter partalso having liquid supply and return passages through said flangeportion opening externally thereof to communicate said circulating spacein said jacket part with the interior of said supporting unit adjacentsaid hole of the latter.

2. A blow plate assembly for the forming of sand core and like elements,comprising a supporting unit having an internal liquid circulatingpassage and provided with holes through which material is discharged inthe forming of said elements, said holes being counterbored at one end,said supporting unit having ports adjacent said respective holes whichcommunicate with said passage of the supporting unit, and blow tubeunits carried by said supporting unit, each blow tube unit beingfabricated of a plurality of component parts, including an inner blowtube part, a tubular jacket part surrounding said tube part andproviding a liquid circulating space about the latter, and an adapterpart, said parts being secured in fixed relation to one another, theadapter part having an end portion received in a counter-bored hole ofthe supporting unit and an enlarged flange portion adjacent said endportion received in the counterbore of said hole and secured directly tothe supporting unit, said adapter part also having liquid supply andreturn passages through said flange portion opening externally thereofto communicate said circulating space in said jacket part with theinterior of said supporting unit adjacent said hole of the latter.

3. A blow plate assembly for the forming of said core and like elements,comprising a pair of plates secured in liquid-tight face-to-face sealingengagement with one another to provide a plate unit, a meeting face ofat least one of said plates being formed to provide therein elongatedpassage portions closed by the other plate to constitute an elongatedliquid circulating passage between the plates, said plate unit havingcounterbored holes extendl6 ing therethrough and at least one of saidplates having ports adjacent said respective holes which communicatewith said passage, and blow tube units carried by said plate unit toreceive material to be formed from one side of said plate unit and todischarge said material at the opposite side of the plate unit, each ofsaid blow tube units being fabricated of a plurality of component parts,including an inner blow tube part, a tubular jacket part surroundingsaid tube part and providing a liquid circulating space about thelatter, and an adapter part, said parts being secured in fixed relationto one another, the adapter part having an end portion received in acounterbored hole of the plate unit and an enlarged flange portionadjacent said end portion received in the counterbore of said hole andsecured directly to the plate unit, said adapter part also having liquidsupply and return passages through said flange portion openingexternally thereof to communicate said circulating space in said jacketpart with the passage of said plate unit through the port adjacent saidhole of the latter.

4. A blow. plate assembly for the forming of sand core andlike elements,comprising a pair of plates secured in hquid-tight face-to-face sealingengagement with one another to provide a plate unit, a meeting face ofat least one of said plates being formed to provide therein elongatedpassage portions closed by the other plate to constitute an elongatedliquid circulating passage between the plates, said plate unit havingholes extending therethrough and at least one of said plates havingports adjacent said respective holes which communicate with saidpassage, and blow tube units carried by said plate unit to receivematerial to be formed from one side of said plate unit and to dischargesaid material at the opposite sideof the plate unit, each of said blowtube units being fabricated of a plurality of component parts, includingan inner blow tube part, a tubular jacket part surrounding said tubepart and providing a liquid circulating space about the latter, and anadapter part, said parts being secured in fixed relatron to one another,the adapter part having an end portron received in one of said holes ofthe plate unit and secured directly to the plate unit, said adapter partalso hav ng liquid supply and return passages opening externally thereofto communicate said circulating space in said jacket part with thepassage of said plate unit through .the port adjacent said hole of thelatter, the passage of the plate unit including supply and return legsin communication with the exterior of said plate unit, and supply andreturn legs being arranged for a parallel flow of cooling I liquid fromthe supply leg through the respective supply and return passages of theblow tube adapter part to the return leg of the passage of the plateunit.

5. A blow plate assembly for the forming of sand core and like elements,comprising a pair of plates secured in liquid-tight face-to-face sealingengagement with one another to provide a plate unit, a meeting face ofat least one of said plates being formed to provide therein elongatedpassage portions closed by the other plate to constitute an elongatedliquid circulating passage between the plates, said plate unit havingcounterbored holes extending therethrough and at least one of saidplates having ports adjacent said respective holes which communicatewithsaid passage, and blow tube units carried by said plate unit toreceive material to be formed from one side of said plate unit and todischarge said material at the opposite side of the plate unit, each ofsaid blow tube ing space about the latter, and an adapter part, saidparts.

being secured in fixed relation to one another, the adapter part havingan end portion received in a counterbored hole of the plate unit and anenlarged flange portion adjacent said end portion received in thecounterbore of said hole and secured directly to the plate unit, saidadapter part also having liquid supply and return passages through saidflange portion opening externally thereof to com municate saidcirculating space in said jacket part with passage of said plate unitthrough the port adjacent said hole of the latter, the passage of theplate unit including supply and return legs in communication with theexterior of said plate unit, said supply and return legs being arrangedfor a parallel flow of cooling liquid from the supply leg through therespective supply and return passages of the blow tube adapter part tothe return leg of t 16 passage of the plate unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS IufiaMay 28, 1940 Madsen May 16, 1950 Peterson Aug. 26, 1952 Hanson Sept. 7,1954 Anderson Sept. 14, 1954 Peterson Sept. 4, 1956 Shallenberger et alSept. 23, 1958 Zink et al Aug. 18, 1959 Hunter et a1 July 9, 1963.

5. A BLOW PLATE ASSEMBLY FOR THE FORMING OF SAND CORE AND LIKE ELEMENTS,COMPRISING A PAIR OF PLATES SECURED IN LIQUID-TIGHT FACE-TO-FACE SEALINGENGAGEMENT WITH ONE ANOTHER TO PROVIDE A PLATE UNIT, A MEETING FACE OFAT LEAST ONE OF SAID PLATES BEING FORMED TO PROVIDE THEREIN ELONGATEDPASSAGE PORTIONS CLOSED BY THE OTHER PLATE TO CONSTITUTE AN ELONGATEDLIQUID CIRCULATING PASSAGE BETWEEN THE PLATES, SAID PLATE UNIT HAVINGCOUNTERVOARD HOLES EXTENDING THERETHROUGH AND AT LEAST ONE OF SAIDPLATES HAVING PORTS ADJACENT SAID RESPECTIVE HOLES WHICH COMMUNICATEWITH SAID PASSAGE, AND BLOW TUBE UNITS CARRIED BY SAID PLATE UNIT TORECEIVE MATERIAL TO BE FORMED FROM ONE SAID OF SAID PLATE UNIT AND TODISCHARGE SAID MATERIAL AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE PLATE UNIT, EACH OFSAID BLOW TUBE UNITS BEING FABRICATED OF A PLURALITY OF COMPONENT PARTSINCLUDING AN INNER BLOW TUBE PART, A TUBULAR JACKET PART SURROUNDINGSAID TUBE PART AND PROVIDING A LIQUID CIRCULAING SPACE ABOUT THE LATTER,AND AN ADAPTER PART, SAID PARTS BEING SECURED IN FIXED RELATION TO ONEANOTHER, THE ADAPTER PART HAVING AN END PORTION RECEIVED IN ACOUNTERBORED HOLE OF THE PLATE UNIT AND AN ELONGATED FLANGE PORTIONADJACENT SAID END PORTION RECEIVED IN THE COUNTERBORE OF SAID HOLE ANDSECURED DIRECTLY TO THE PLATE UNIT, SAID ADAPTER PART ALSO HAVING LIQUIDSUPPLY AND RETURN PASSAGES THROUGH SAID FLANGE PORTION OPENINGEXTERNALLY THEREOF TO COMMUNICATE SAID CIRCULATING SPACE IN SAID JACKETPART WITH PASSAGE OF SAID PLATE UNIT THROUGH THE PORT ADJACENT SAID HOLEOF THE LATTER, THE PASSAGE OF THE PLATE UNIT INCLUDING SUPPLY AND RETURNLEGS IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE EXTERIOR OF SAID PLATE UNIT, SAID SUPPLYAND RETURN LEGS BEING ARRANGED FOR A PARALLEL FLOW OF COOLING LIQUIDFROM THE SUPPLY LEG THROUGH THE RESPECTIVE SUPPLY AND RETURN PASSAGES OFTHE BLOW TUBE ADAPTER PART TO THE RETURN LEG OF THE PASSAGE OF THE PLATEUNIT.